1. Belogradchik Rocks
Mariana Boshnakova

2. The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of intriguingly shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations located on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains near the town of Belogradchik in northwest Bulgaria.

3. The Belogradchik Rocks extend around 30 km in length, km in width and up to 200 m in height. Many have mythical shapes and are associated with folkloric legends. They are often named after people or objects they are thought to resemble. The Rocks have also been declared a Natural Landmark and are a major tourist attraction in the region.

4. The formation of the Belogradchik Rocks started during the Permian period, about 230 million years ago, when the tectonic cycle was folding to create the Balkan Mountains and elevating the region of Belogradchik. The central group of rocks is situated just to the south and adjacent to the town of Belogradchik. Located here are the most interesting and impressive formations.

5. The Belogradchik Rocks are a major tourist destination in northwest Bulgaria, along with the town of Belogradchik and the Belogradchik Fortress, which incorporates the rocks as part of its natural defense, and the nearby Magura Cave, situated near the village of Rabisha.

6. The walls of the fortress

8. In 1984, the Belogradchik Rocks and the Magura Cave were both placed on the Tentative List of places to be named to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The Belogradchik Rocks are under consideration as a Geopark in the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
In September 2008, Belogradchik was named as one of twenty finalists by the European Commission as a “European Destination of Excellence”.
In January 2009, the Belogradchik Rocks were named as Bulgaria’s nomination in the campaign for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

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